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Screening of Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

Screening of Abacus: Small Enough to Jail

The Museum of the City of New York presents Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, as part of its second season of the nonfiction film series, Smile, It’s Your Close Up: New York's Documentaries, which zooms in on key moments, individuals, and communities to pose the question: “What makes New York New York?”

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (Steve James, 88 min, 2017) documents the incredible saga of the Sung family, Chinese immigrants and owners of the Abacus Federal Savings bank in New York City’s Chinatown.

Accused of mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., Abacus was the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. The indictment and subsequent trial forced the Sung family to defend themselves – and their bank’s legacy in the Chinatown community – over the course of a five-year legal battle.

A talkback will follow the film with Chinatown community activist Don Lee and Sung family members, Chanterelle Sung, Jill Sung, and Vera Sung of Abacus Federal Savings Bank.

The event takes place on Thursday, October 19, 2017, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, with a ticket price of $15 for adults | $12 for seniors, students, and educators (with ID) | $10 for Museum and Maysles Documentary Center Members , all of which Include Museum admission and beer courtesy of Harlem Blue.